Clingy Cats: How to Reduce Separation Anxiety

Feline personalities are shaped by biology and environment. Cats with timid, nervous temperaments may become clingy due to specific phobias or the feline equivalent of generalized anxiety disorder. Cats are also likely to develop needy personalities if they have suffered abandonment, deprivation, or poor socialization as kittens.

Certain cat breeds (such as the Siamese) tend to be more affectionate, whereas others are usually more independent. Not all affectionate cats are clingy, but they may be more likely to develop this trait, particularly when under stress.

Symptoms of Over-Dependence in Cats

Clingy cats want to be with their owners constantly. They are often very vocal, demand attention frequently, and try to maintain physical contact (such as sitting on an owner’s lap) as much as possible. They follow their owners around, become distressed when left alone, and may lose their appetites or vomit when their owners leave the house. In extreme cases, they develop neurotic habits such as:

If a formerly independent cat has suddenly become needy, this usually signals a medical problem or anxiety about a specific event, such as:

The arrival of a new baby or pet

The death of a beloved animal or person

Moving house

If a cat that wasn’t needy in the past suddenly begins exhibiting signs of clinginess, bring her in for a veterinary check-up to rule out illness. If the clinginess has been triggered by a recent change, provide extra attention to get her through the rough patch. With a little support, most cats eventually return to normal. However, if the neediness is a long-term problem rather than a temporary reaction, the following approaches can be used to reduce separation anxiety and increase confidence and independence.

How to Reduce Separation Anxiety in Cats

Clingy cats usually suffer from separation anxiety. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to reduce separation anxiety in over-dependent cats:

Don’t engage in elaborate good-bye routines when leaving the house; have keys ready by the door or in a bag so you can exit quickly.

Give a favourite toy or treat to the cat just before you leave so that she’ll associate your leaving with something positive.

When returning home, ignore the cat for 10-15 minutes, especially if she demands attention. Wait until she’s calm and then provide affection.

If the cat engages in undesirable behaviour such as house soiling or scratching furniture while you’re out, don’t yell or punish her, as this will make stress-induced behaviours worse.

Provide a hideaway (this can be anything from a fancy carpeted kitty condo to a cardboard box with a doorway cut into it). Add a piece of your clothing (unwashed so that it has your scent on it) for comfort. This gives the cat a safe place to retreat when she’s alone and anxious. A comfort object should also be provided if she needs to stay overnight at the vet’s or board somewhere else temporarily.

A few fake departures can be helpful for teaching the cat not to panic whenever she sees you getting ready to leave. Put on your coat and go out for a minute or two, then come back, varying the length of these excursions until the cat learns that not every leave-taking means you’ll be gone for hours or days.

Sometimes neediness results from boredom. To prevent boredom, provide an enriched environment with plenty of distractions, such as solo toys, healthy treats hidden around the house (assuming the cat is not overweight), cat trees, cat-safe plants, and an entertaining view (such as a bird feeder outside a window).

Owners who are afraid to let their cats out due to traffic, predators, pet thieves, and other hazards should consider putting up a cat fence or enclosure if they have outdoor space so that they can let their cats out safely. Leash training and taking the cat out for safe excursions is also an option.

If the cat’s anxiety is causing him to urinate, spray, or defecate in inappropriate places, see Why Cats Soil Outside the Litter Box for deterrents and reconditioning strategies (house soiling may also be caused by a medical problem or a dirty litter box, so if a cat begins soiling around the house, first clean the box and take her for a veterinary check-up before assuming the problem is behavioural).

In extreme cases, if all else fails, a veterinarian may prescribe anti-anxiety medication or recommend a natural anxiety remedy.